The UK’s first virtual school has won overall honours at Liverpool’s first Neighbourhood Renewal Awards. The awards have been designed to recognise the achievements of local projects in significantly improving the services and regeneration of some of the most deprived areas of Liverpool.
The innovative ‘virtual school’ has 800 pupils on its register and has achieved excellent results since its conception two years ago. The online school aims to ensure that all the city’s children in care gain the same educational opportunities as their peers. Pupils have access to their own computer and e-learning packages, which have been tailored to assist pupils and their carers with online study support, information and advice. This distant learning programme, in conjunction with regular school attendance, continues to significantly improve academic results of children in care within Liverpool. The award recognises the technological advance as an opportunity to reduce barriers to learning in an attempt to help students recognise their academic potential.
The school has a virtual board of governors, a virtual headteacher and even virtual parent governors. A million pounds worth of IT equipment has been made available to ensure all children have access to a computer and develop IT skills on par with other students outside the programme.